If interested in different cultures, human evolution, and finding fossils, anthropology is an ideal major. UWG anthropology professors discussed the opportunities of majoring or minoring in anthropology on March 3 in the Anthropology building Room 12.

Students enjoyed the display of archaeological bones and manmade replicas while professors discussed various courses and future careers.

“Businesses are starting to realize that anthropology graduates know how to study people,” said Dr. Kathryn Kelley. “Economics and international relations need anthropologists.”
Homeland Security, CARE International, World Vision, Save the Children and Refugee Family Services are some of the many organizations that hire anthropologists.

Students interested in studying different cultures would enjoy Cultural Anthropology, the study of human culture and various societies. Courses such as Environmental, Animals and Culture, People and Cultures and Anthropology of Gender study human interaction from birth to middle age. Myth, Magic, and Religion is a new course that studies different cultural religions.

The linguistics course features the many aspects of language. Students learn the origins of language, from ape language to social interaction. The course, Gendered Language, shows how males and females speak and interact differentially.

Intro to Physical Anthropology looks at human biology within the framework of evolution. The newly added Primatology class looks at apes, lemars and monkeys within relation to humans.

However, students interested in research and hands-on activities would prefer the archaeological courses.

Dirt Archeology is the most well known form of Archaeology, which is digging for artifacts. Dirt Archaeology forms Zooarchaeology concentrates on animal bones, while Paleoethnobotany focuses on plant remains.

Archaeologists are required to have a master’s degree in the field.

“Don’t let that scare you off,” encouraged Dr. Karl Steinen. “It’s the best experience of your life. Most of this is required through field experience.”

UWG’s Antonio J. Waring, Jr. archaeological laboratory curates artifacts from all over the southeast.

“We curate Etowah Indian Mound artifacts here,” said Dr. Thomas Foster. “People from all over the country come to UWG to study these artifacts. There are not many colleges that offer this kind of funding for undergraduates, which makes this the best place in the state to study anthropology.”

The anthropology department has an anthropology club for anyone interested in learning more about the field without majoring or minoring in it. The club brings in nationally-known speakers and travels to archeological worksites.

Dr. Lisa Gezon closed the lecture advising students to make connections through networks and internships in expanding skills.

“Major in what you love and the opportunities will follow,” advised Gezon.
For more information, visit the UWG Anthropology website at http://www.westga.edu/anth/index.php.
 

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